Efficiency Analysis of the Generation of Energy in a Biogas CHP System and its Management in a Waste Landfill – Case Study

Abstract

As a waste neutralization facility, the landfill is a kind of bioreactor producing landfill gas or (LFG) -biogas, which should be captured and neutralised for environmental reasons. One of the ways of its utilisation is the combined production of heat and electrical energy in combined heat and power (CHP) cogeneration systems. For that purpose, the assessment of the energy efficiency of a cogeneration unit was undertaken in this work on the basis of the unit performance over the last 5 years. The analysis of the CHP system energy performance demonstrated that the ratios range at the lower limits for units up to 0.5 MW. The lower efficiency of fuel chemical conversion in the CHP plant (0.70) stems from the failure to use the rated thermal and electrical power fully (74.2%), which is caused by the insufficient stream of biogas collected from the landfill (161.46 m 3 •h -1 ). The analysis of the generated energy usage, particularly in terms of heat, has shown a surplus which is not used and therefore is a loss. The proposed solutions in this area should optimize the use of heat generated from the renewable source, i.e. landfill biogas.

Evaluation of the Activity of a Municipal Waste Landfill Site in the Operational and Non-Operational Sectors Based on Landfill Gas Productivity

“…Using statistical tools, Kasinath et al [90] showed the relationship between the parameters of the generated biogas and its rational use, taking into account the environmental aspect. The analysed landfill site as a waste disposal facility is a certain type of bioreactor producing biogas, which, for environmental reasons, should be captured and disposed of [91,92]. Biogas is generally treated as a valuable source of renewable energy produced in anaerobic conditions in a waste landfill site, which, because of the CH 4 content, can be recovered in the form of combined energy [93,94] or ultimately flared to protect the atmosphere from harmful emissions.…”

Pollution Indicator of a Megawatt Hour Produced in Cogeneration – The Efficiency of Biogas Purification Process as an Energy Source for Wastewater Treatment Plants

“…The availability of such a unit depends primarily on the quality of fuel, which is biogas, which in turn translates into operation indexes of the cogeneration unit. The basic indexes include: the efficiency of electricity and heat generation, the combination index and the savings index of chemical energy of fuel in the form of biogas [Ciuła et al, 2022;Sowa, 2020].…”

Balance and Energy Use of Biogas in Poland: Prospects and Directions of Development for the Circular Economy

“…Due to the content of the main parameters, which are methane (40-60%) and carbon dioxide 25-45%, as a type of greenhouse gas, it is a potential threat to the environment and people. Therefore, in this case, it is crucial to manage it through controlled intake, treatment and use for energy purposes [5]. Sewage treatment plants in mechanical and biological processes generate waste constituting sewage sludge, which contains significant amounts of biodegradable fractions [6].…”